IPL 2024: 'Consistency of last two seasons paying off' - Anjum Chopra on Rajasthan Royals' brilliant run

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IPL 2024: Rajasthan Royals (RR) were seven down and needed 46 runs off 18 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday, April 16. Jos Buttler, who wasn't looking hundred percent after returning from an illness, was batting on 67 off 42, and was standing in the middle alongside Trent Boult.

With an over each left from Mitchell Starc and Harshit Rana, KKR looked set for another win at home, but the England captain turned the tables in the 18th over. Despite the run out dismissal of Boult on the third ball of the over, Buttler managed to collect 18 runs against Starc.

In the 19th over from Harshit Rana. Buttler hammered two sixes, and a four to bring the equation down to 9 off six in the final over. A six on the final ball of the 20th over saw Buttler bring up a 55-ball hundred. The star opener denied taking singles on the next three deliveries from Varun Chakravarthy, before running a double on the fifth to level the scores. KKR brought all their fielders inside the circle for the final delivery, but Buttler managed a single to give consistent Rajasthan Royals their sixth win in seven matches.

Table-toppers Rajasthan were in the final of IPL 2022. In the previous season, they missed the playoffs by a whisker. They are having another good season, and looking set for a playoffs berth. Many have already declared them the best team of the IPL 2024.

Former India captain Anjum Chopra in a recent conversation with MyKhel.Com credited Rajasthan's consistency over the last few years for their stellar run in the ongoing season. She said, there is a lot of clarity in the RR dressing room.

"The consistency of the two seasons is paying off. The players also understand what they have to work on. When you lose, you keep on thinking about winning. But when you start winning, you figure out how we are winning and what is the reason for our wins. Because of their consistency since the last few seasons they know what to do - Jos Buttler has to score runs, how do we have to use Rovman Powell," Anjum Chopra told MyKhel.com.

"They play three players in the first half and bring fourth overseas players in the second half. They are using their foreign stars very well. The good part is that the middle-order is doing well for them, even though Yashasvi has not been in the best of forms, but Shimron Hetmyer, Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag are scoring, someone is stepping up for them," Anjum Chopra, who is part of JioCinema commentary panel for the IPL 2024, added.

'Rajasthan Royals have found their own formula'

Talking about Rajasthan's come-from-behind win against Kolkata, Anjum Chopra asserted that the Sanju Samson-led team has found a formula to get out of tough situations and win matches.

"Yesterday's (RR vs KKR) match was an example that they know how to win now. They know how to get out of tough situations. Every team has a different formula, they have found their own. They are looking a good side," she said.

Rajasthan Royals will next be action against five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Monday, April 22.